The title of this chapter shall be known as the "Uniform Vector
Control Ordinance."
The purpose of this chapter is to protect the public health,
safety, and general welfare, by:
A. Preventing or controlling the spread of vector-borne disease;
B. Averting the blighting effects which the presence of vector infestation
places on an affected neighborhood, including undermining the desirability
of housing, causing decline in property value, and contributing to
the image of an environmentally unfit area; and
C. Facilitating the services of the Joint Vector Control Program Staff
by making more uniform municipal regulations concerning vector control.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the
meanings indicated:
EXTERMINATION
The control and elimination of vectors by eliminating harborage
areas, by removing food sources or making them inaccessible, by poisoning,
spraying, fumigating, trapping, or any other legal vector elimination
methods which is not injurious to human health or the safety of domestic
animals.
GARBAGE
The animal and/or vegetable waste resulting from the handling,
preparation, cooking, serving, or nonconsumption of food.
INFESTATION
The presence of vectors within or contiguous to a structure
or premises.
INSPECTION OFFICER
The municipal Health Officer, a staff member of the Joint
Vector Control Program, and/or any other persons authorized in writing
by the governing body of the Township of Upper Chichester to conduct
inspection and administrative procedures to enforce the provisions
of this chapter.
JUNK
All large items of rubbish, including but not limited to:
B.
Nonoperable appliances (such as refrigerators or stoves); and
OCCUPANT
Any person living, sleeping, cooking, or eating in, or actually
having possession of, a dwelling unit or a rooming unit, except that
in dwelling units a temporary guest will not be considered an occupant.
OWNER
Any person who, alone or joint-severally with others:
A.
Shall have legal title to any premises, dwelling unit, or dwelling,
with or without accompanying actual possession thereof; or
B.
Shall have charge, care, or control of any premises, dwelling
unit, or dwelling, as owner or agent of the owner, or an executor,
administrator, trustee, assignee of rents, or guardian of the estate
of the owner. Any such person thus representing the actual owner shall
be bound to comply with the provisions of this chapter to the same
extent as if he were the owner.
PERSON
Any individual, business, firm, corporation, association,
or partnership.
PREMISES
All areas of a property, including all interior, exterior,
grounds, and yard spaces.
RUBBISH
Solid wastes other than garbage, consisting of either:
A.
Combustible wastes, such as paper, cardboard, plastic, yard
clippings, and wood; or
B.
Noncombustible wastes, such as metal; glass and crockery.
STRUCTURE
Any man-made construction or building which is located on
any part of the premises.
URBANIZED AREA
Any area which is located within 1,000 feet of either:
A.
Any structure which is designed for human occupancy for any
purpose, be it residential, business, or leisure time, at any time
of the day or night; or
B.
A public or privately owned outdoor recreation site.
VECTOR
An organism which, either directly or indirectly via micro-organisms
which it carries, can transmit disease to man. For the purpose of
this chapter, the term "vector" shall ordinarily, but not exclusively,
refer to rodent, insect, or vermin species.
VECTORPROOF
Describing a form of construction which prevents the ingress
or egress of vectors to and from a given space or structure, or which
prevents vectors from gaining access to food, water, or harborage.
[Amended 11-17-1987 by Ord. No. 456]
A. Inspection procedures shall be conducted by the Inspection Officer.
B. The Inspection Office shall be empowered to inspect any structure
or premises, in the Township of Upper Chichester at any reasonable
time. The Inspection Officer is authorized to conduct the inspection
on any part of the premises, including any interior spaces.
C. In the event that the owner or occupant refuses to permit the Inspection
Officer to inspect the premises, the Inspection Officer shall obtain
an administrative search warrant from the Magisterial District Judge
of competent jurisdiction authorizing entry to the premises in question,
or the Inspection Officer may make the inspection by any other lawful
means.
D. The Inspection Officer shall reinspect any premises which have been
previously cited for violating the terms of this chapter within 180
days of the date on which the violation has been certified as having
been corrected.
E. The Inspection Officer shall continue to inspect the premises periodically
as he deems necessary until he has certified that the violation has
been corrected.
F. Inspection of specific types of land uses which are prone to vector
harborage shall occur regularly as indicated below:
(1) Commercial, industrial, or institutional establishments in which
foodstuffs are sold, handled, processed, or stored: annual inspection;
(2) Commercial, industrial, or institutional establishments in which
large quantities of materials must be regularly located in outside
storage areas; annual inspection.
G. Any owner or occupant within the Township of Upper Chichester may
issue a complaint requesting action by the Inspection Officer. The
complaint must be signed and in writing, unless otherwise requested
by the complainant or a court of competent jurisdiction. Within 15
days of the receipt of the complaint, the Inspection Officer shall
indicate in writing the action taken on the complaint.
In interpreting the language of this chapter, the singular shall
be construed to include the plural, the masculine to include the feminine,
and the present tense to include the past and future tense.